Public forums on ‘Preventing Liver Cancer’ are fully registered as Singaporeans heed call for early
screening and follow-up treatment to prevent late-stage illnesses
Thursday, 10 Sep 2009
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Attendees get first-hand knowledge from a field of clinical experts prior to making appointments for
screening. |
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Free screenings offer up from 400 to 1,200 this year.
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Singapore, 10 Sep 2009 – Close to 1,200 vouchers for Free Hepatitis B screening have been snapped up since they were offered as an incentive to registrants who signed up for the public forums on “Preventing Liver Cancer’. This came as encouraging news in the wake of the Health Ministry’s call on the need for early detection and follow-up treatment to prevent health diseases from escalating to an incurable stage.
The public forums are organised by the National Cancer Centre Singapore, in conjunction with the 2nd Liver Cancer Awareness Month. Held for the second consecutive year, the campaign aims to bring greater awareness on liver cancer to Singaporeans and encourage them to take a proactive step in managing the disease. To be conducted in English and Mandarin over four sessions, the forums will focus on Metabolic Syndrome, Fatty Liver and Hepatitis B, and their co-relation to liver cancer, and treatment and care for liver cancer. In an effort to bring the awareness on liver cancer to Singaporeans in the heartlands, they will be held at Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club (Blk 207 Hougang St 21) on 12 and 13 September.
The public forums will be delivered by clinical experts in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medicine and Surgery from the National Cancer Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital. They are:
Dr Tham Chee Kian: Associate Consultant (Medical Oncology), NCCS;
A/Prof Chow Wan Cheng: Head and Senior Consultant (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), SGH;
A/Prof Tan Chee Kiat: Senior Consultant (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), SGH;
Dr Tan Hui Hui: Consultant (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), SGH;
Dr Wong Jen San: Associate Consultant (General Surgery), SGH;
Dr Cheow Peng Chung: Consultant (General Surgery), SGH
Professor London Ooi, Adviser of NCCS and Chairperson of the organising committee is heartened by the response to the screening programme and the forums and hopes that the actual number of people going for screening will match up. Citing last year’s poor turnout of 80 people who went for Hepatitis B screening, he hopes that more will come forward this year. “We are glad that Bayer Healthcare has supported us for the second consecutive year and increased the number of screenings from 400 to 1,200 this year. We hope that with the increase in the number of screening vouchers to be given out this year, more participants will use this opportunity to receive early screening and detect symptoms of this silent killer. As most patients with liver cancer have no symptoms and present late, the time remaining upon diagnosis is usually short. Hence early detection and treatment is important.”
The screening which comprises a Hepatitis Antigen and an Antibody tests will be available till 15 November 2009 at any SingHealth Polyclinic. Prior booking for appointment is required. During the day of screening, registrants will have to select the button ‘Consultation’ and take a queue number at the services selection kiosk and produce screening voucher and NRIC when their number is called. Counselling will also be conducted prior to screening.
For more information, please contact NCCS Corporate Communications :
Ms Veronica Lee
Senior Executive, Corporate Communications
National Cancer Centre Singapore
Tel:
6236 9429
Email:
Veronica.Lee.H.E.@nccs.com.sg
Ms Carol Ang
Executive, Corporate Communications
National Cancer Centre Singapore
Tel:
6236 4924
Email:
Carol.Ang.S.Y@nccs.com.sg
About National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)
NCCS is a premier cancer research and treatment facility in Singapore and in the region. It was established in 1997 and sees about 68 per cent of the public sector medical oncology cases and 74 per cent of radiation oncology cases. NCCS not only houses the most number of oncologists in Singapore but is also equipped with the largest number of equipment to provide the latest radiation oncology care in Singapore.
About Bayer HealthCare
Bayer Schering Pharma is a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. Its research and business activities are focused on the following areas: Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, Specialty Medicine and Women's Healthcare. With innovative products, Bayer Schering Pharma aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. Using new ideas, Bayer Schering Pharma aims to make a contribution to medical progress and strives to improve the quality of life. Find more information at www.bayerscheringpharma.de.
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